Police search for home robbery suspect

Three suspects arrested

A residential armed robbery leads to a manhunt in Carter County Tuesday morning.

Two suspects were taken into custody, but officers spend the afternoon searching for two other suspects.

It was anything but a quiet New Year's morning for the King Springs community of Carter County.

Officers were out in full force Tuesday morning. Carter County deputies and Johnson City police searched for suspects they believe were involved in an armed robbery on Hillside Drive.

"There were two black males and two white females that went to a residence there," said Carter County Sheriff Chris Mathes.

We went to that house and spoke with resident Stevie Wyatt, Jr.

He said his dad let a friend inside when shortly after two men they didn't know came in the house.

"The girls had my dad in the bedroom, and they went inside and told him, 'Get down on the bed. Give us your wallet.' and he shot the gun," Wyatt said.

Wyatt went on to show us how the bullet went through this bedroom window and actually hit this service truck, though no one was hurt.

Wyatt said the suspects ran out of the house, but he's still shaken up since three small children were inside.

"I was more scared for the kids. Even though my life was in danger, I was more thinking about them," said Wyatt.

Sheriff Mathes said one black male and one white female were found and arrested Tuesday morning.

We're told officers found a wallet with a large amount of cash and a ski mask, though the search for the other two suspects and the handgun continued throughout the morning in what Sheriff Mathes called a 'very intensive manhunt'.

"It's very hard. We've had pursuits and manhunts in this area before. People can get to the creek. The banking is so steep people can run and hide. There's actually caves and stuff behind some of this area here," added Mathes.

It's a hunt Wyatt hopes ends in justice being served.

"It shouldn't be done anyways, but especially [not] with kids around. That's putting a lot of people's lives in danger," said Wyatt.

Johnson City police also had K9 officers assisting in this manhunt.

Officers tell us they are still looking for Chrystal Dawn Barnes, a white female.

If you have any information, you’re asked to call the Carter County Sheriff’s Department at (423) 543-2211.